All odds according to Bookmaker.
San Francisco 49ers (-255 to win NFC West) – 2009 Record :8-8, 2nd place. Not tough to figure this one out. With the retirement of Kurt Warner and the losses of Anquan Boldin, Antrel Rolle, and Karlos Dansby, the Cardinals just aren’t the same team. The 49ers are now the favorites to take first place in perhaps the weakest division in football. The 49ers defense proved how good it could be all of last season (allowed just 17.6 points per game) and with an offense on the rise, the 49ers have the most complete team in the division. If they don’t win the division, it should be considered a disappointment.
New York Giants (+310 to win NFC East) – 2009 Record: 8-8, 3rd place. How could a team be so hot and cold? The Giants dismantled mediocre competition to start the 2009 season, jumping off to a 5-0 start, before hitting a wall and finishing the year on a 3-8 skid. This seems to be one of the more competitive divisions with all four teams having a shot at making the playoffs. The Cowboys are heavily favored to repeat as division champs, but the Giants made some key offseason moves to help them contend. Keith Bullock and Antrel Rolle will help bring veteran leadership to a defense that struggled all of last season. If the defense can return to the way it was a few years ago, this team can give the Cowboys a scare.
Tennessee Titans (+440 to win AFC South) – 2009 Record: 8-8, 3rd place. A lot of people think this is the year that the Houston Texans will make the playoffs, and it might very well be. But if there is a team that can sneak by the Colts to take the division, it will be Tennessee, not Houston. Let’s not forget that the Titans won the division in 2008 and still had a shot at the playoffs last year after starting the season 0-6. If we’ve learned anything about Tennessee these past two seasons is that once they get hot, they stay hot. They started the 2008 season 10-0, and finished the 2009 season on an 8-2 run. The Titans defense isn’t what it was two years ago, and will need to be more consistent this season. The Colts should take the division, but if the Titans get hot, look out.
Atlanta Falcons (+150 to win NFC South) – 2009 Record: 9-7, 2nd place. Heading into last season, the Falcons were expected to contend for the division title, and at the very least, make the playoffs. Neither happened as, thanks in some part to injury, the Falcons were hot and cold all year. Now, the Super Bowl defending Saints are the best team in the division, but here is an interesting statistic: Since the conferences switched from three divisions to four in 2002, the NFC South has not had a team win the division in back-to-back years. So if that pattern continues, the Saints are out and a new team is in. The Falcons are easily the second best team in the division, and with an offense including Michael Turner, Matt Ryan and Roddy White, this team is one that could give the Saints a run for their money. The key will be Turner’s health, as he missed five games due to injury last year.
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